global politics - unit 4 (peace)

What four key components influence the presence or absence of peace, according to Johan Galtung?

Galtung suggests that peace processes should focus on the dual task of increasing EQUITY and HARMONY, while reducing VIOLENCE and TRAUMA He puts peace as the equation: Peace = (equity + harmony)/(violence + trauma)

Positive peace

Positive peace looks more deeply at what helps sustain peace beyond simply reducing or stopping violence. It is possible to identify a deeper level of harmony in society, where the causes of conflict themselves are neutralized, rather than violence merely absent. Society is just and equal. Former enemies make peace and each has an equal stake in society.

Equity

A society must operate on the basis of equality in order to have peace. There must be political equality, in which all adult citizens have the right to vote and particpate in the political system. There must be economic equality, with equal opportunities and access to resources. Finally, there must be equality before the law - every citizen is equal before the law and no citizen or institution is above the law.

A liberalist's view of negative peace

A desirable and realistic first objective, perhaps to be achieved through diplomacy, negotiation and with the assistance of IGOs. A means to and end, rather than an end in itself.

Harmony

A harmonious society is one in which all individuals within a society work together despite differences of race, ethnicity, class or caste, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or age.

A realist's view of positive peace

An unrealistic aim. It is natural for states to compete with each other. Equal status among nation states is both impossible and undesirable.

Unipolarity

In a unipolarity, one great power or hegemon exists which cannot be challenged militarily by any other. Truly global hegemons are extremely rare and are more likely to exist at regional, rather than global, level.

Bipolarity

In the Cold War, the US and Soviet Union were in direct bipolar competition with each other, but never fought each other directly.

Multipolarity

Many analysts agree that the current world order is multipolar. Many powers are competing with each other and non-state groups are challenging nation-states in armed conflict. Realists believe there is more instability in a multipolar order. Meanwhile, liberals are more optimistic. They believe if many states have power, it increases the possibility of nation-states working together in the common interest

Negative peace

Negative peace involves merely the absence of active, organized violence by both state and non-state groups. This assessment of peace looks no deeper. It does not consider the factors contributing to non-violence. This concept of peace is most useful at the first stage in conflict resolution when the aim is to stop immediate violence.

What is peace?

Peace is the absence of conflict. It can be either positive; with the long-term causes of conflict resolved sustainably, or negative; meaning there is an absence of violence.

Peacebuilding

Peacebuilding is the building of sustainable, positive peace, and long-term conflict resolution. This includes stabilization efforts to build longer-lasting peace and security, in order to achieve positive peace. Usually, after a conflict, intergovernmental organizations will attempt to build peace through Truth and Reconciliation Commissions and by prosecuting war criminals.

Peacekeeping

Peacekeeping is sustaining negative peace to allow positive peace to be built. When a ceasefire is agreed, independent peacekeepers may be sent to the area. They will ensure that the peace holds, allowing positive peace to be built. The priority is monitoring agreements made during the peacemaking process.

Peacemaking

Peacemaking is stopping violent conflict and creating negative peace. A pause or end to achieve immediate violence is achieved, commonly through negotiation. Pausing violence may allow for further mediation or negotiation and the building of trust between both sides in a conflict. A pause in violence enables stabilization, for example through a ceasefire or truce.

Peace and power

Power plays an important role in developing peace, notably in the distribution and balance of power between great powers who might be drawn into conflict with each other. Power may be used by one state alone (unipolarity), or by two rivals (bipolarity), or distributed among many states and non-state groups (multipolar).

The security dilemma

Realists believe that strong national security and defense are a priority because they protect a state from potential aggressors and secure power over its competitors. Critics, however, argue that as a state builds up its defenses, this may be interpreted by other states as aggressive. Other states may respond by building up their own military forces. This means the military resources available to both states increase. The result for both is greater insecurity, the opposite of the original goal. (This dilemma was observed when former Soviet states in Eastern Europe joined NATO after the Cold War; Ukraine, bordering Russia, planned to join NATO. Russia considered this a threat to its national security. This contributed to Russian military intervention in the Crimea region of Ukraine in 2014, as Russia wanted to secure its Black Sea fleet.)

Democratic peace theory

Some theorists believe that democracy itself promotes peace. They note that conflict between democratic states is rare. It is suggested that in democratic states, there is a fairer balance of power and distribution of wealth and resources. This internal stability reduces potential sources of grievance, and also promotes dispute resolution through democratic rather than violent means because the previous success of democratic models of conflict resolution makes it clearer to all how conflict can be avoided in the future.

A liberalist's view of positive peace

The desired final state in all conflict situations, seen as both realistic and achievable. Both sides will be willing to make big concessions on core interests and seek to reconcile and forgive.

A realist's view of negative peace

The more natural state in an anarchical world order. States exist to protect and advance their own national interests. Their priority is national security for its own sake.

Pathways to peace

There are three stages to creating peace. Peacemaking happens to end a conflict, peacekeeping aims to maintain the established peace, and peacebuilding attempts to create long-lasting peace.

Trauma

Trauma is the emotional shock following the stress of conflict or violence. This can lead to long-term distress and harm, bitterness, and grievance between parties that were in conflict. Grievances left unresolved are likely to cause a return to conflict.

Violence

Violence is physical or psychological harm. This can be caused either by physical force or by groups in conflict, or by structures within society and government, causing injury, damage, or death.